Lake District Tour

Our approach to the Lake District
This trip is a full circuit of the Lake District visiting the main valleys of the National Park and crossing a number of great mountain passes. Designed to give a wonderful taste of what the Lake District has to offer, our routecards also give options on Stage 3 and Stage 5 to claim some key summits: Scafell Pike and Helvellyn.

Latest research on the Lake District Tour by Nicky.

The Terrain
Our Lakeland trip involve a broad mix of terrain from easy paths across fields to rocky paths across the massifs. Everything is within the context of hillwalking in the UK and is achieveable for a normal fit walker. A typical path is hard-packed earth, or mud if it has been raining! We also find stonier sections and some drops to the side (particularly on the optional descent from Helvellyn via Striding Edge, which has substantial drops on both sides and is a narrow path on a thin crest of rock.) Around the Scafell area the going is particularly rocky and rough, with careful navigation required if the cloud is low.

Is it for me?
Exploring the Lakes is a treat for any walker who likes to spend time in the mountains (and valleys). The Lake District, although not as high as the mountains of the Alps, is dramatic and beautiful in its own way. Many a walker and photographer has fallen in love with the Lakeland fells. The lush green valleys of the South contrast nicely with the bold hills of the North and East, and with the rockiness of the West.

With good solid paths for the majority of the route, the trail is achievable for most fit walkers and our alternatives offer a great challenge for those who want it. Although the route goes on known paths, marked on the map, the path (in small sections) is not always visible on the ground. In clear weather the route is obvious, but if the cloud is low then navigation with map and compass will be needed to stay in the right direction. These sections are generally short and soon link to the clear path on the far side of the col. It is for these sections that we ask that each group has at least one person who is happy to navigate using map and compass, in low visibility. If you’d like to chat about the trail, please email or call us and we’ll be delighted to talk.

Difficulty
The trip is first and foremost a hike. There are no via ferrata or climbing sections on our route, and all the walking is on rocky mountain paths, forest trails, field paths or country lanes. The optional alternative routes via Scafell Pike or Helvellyn are at the higher end of difficulty (our Black grade for terrain) which means combinations of technical rocky walking ground, less well-defined paths, and drops to one or both sides.

As to pace, our 6-stage Tour is a reasonably bold week, as is needed to see these diverse valleys in the time. The route presses on and will suit those used to longer days.

We describe the difficulties of the trail and the alternatives on our routecards. While your routecards make up the walking for the trip, you are of course free to walk wherever you choose, taking side trips or going by a different route of your own choice. Please note that if you follow your own route you will have left the holiday for the duration.

 For an even more detailed read, please see our Lake District Tour Walking Guide

How to get there

Your holiday starts and ends in Keswick. The nearest train station is Penrith from where it’s a short bus ride to Keswick. Penrith is on the main London-Glasgow and Manchester-Edinurgh line, so easily accessible from London, Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh.

If flying, Manchester Airport is the closest option for a large airport and is host to plenty of international flights. From Manchester Airport, trains run direct to Penrith.

We are delighted to advise on travel across the UK and we are proud to have ourselves taken so many routes. Wherever you are starting, please ask us and we’ll suggest the good approaches to the Lakes. Equally many of our Lakeland hikers are walking as part of a longer trip in the UK; we love to talk about the possibilities.

Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point. The aim is that our trekkers arrange their travel by the simplest and most scenic means as suits their plan.